Combustion-preventer



G. C. LEE. comsusnow PREVENTE'R. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 7, 192i).

mama Feb. 22,1921.

" INVENTOR.

M ATTORNEY.

UNITED. STATES PATENT orrtcef.;

GILBERT 0.1.1211, or LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, AssIGNo t-rmggr SAFE-cesium COMPANY, or MARIETTA, OHIO, A CORP&RATIO1\T GE-OI EIIO. a

coMBus'rInN-rREv NmER.

Application filed June 7, 1920. Serial No; 387,088.

One method has consisted of the use of a very wet compound of cement or concrete for the wall and door filler which has depended upon the heat which strikes the outer 'wall of the safe, when the latter is subjected to fire, causing the wet compound to give off moisture thereby creating a moist vapor inside the safe. Another method has been to place within the safe walls and doors various chemicals in crystal form which contents of safes is to use either dead air space or dry insulating material, either of which allows htTa't to pass through the walls and doors to the interior of the safe at a very low rate of flow.

These-methods of insulating are limited in their ability to keep the temperature. down below the burning points The 'present invention supplements, and in most cases gives double, the protection to safes or other containers so insulated and does not guarding the contents of a safe'by attempttain a considerable amount of moisture, the

purpose being for the crystals to give ofimoisture inside the safe when the chemicals reach their melting point due to exterior fire.- Both of these plans were good for only a limited number of years. With the first method, it is only a few years before practically all of the water evaporates from the cement or concrete, thus destroying its efiiciency. With the second method, the

crystals become dry after a certain period I and serve no useful purpose when fire occurs. 3

A third method for protectingthe contents of safes has been to provide either inside or outside of the safe a container within which is a gasdesigned to prevent combustion, said gas being released to the exterior of the safe to prevent or kill combustion around the exteriorof the safe.

3f the safe, have been provided'with a conduit or pipe leading to the exterior of the safe which, initself, is not only cumbersome j vices of this character, when located inside which is the complete sealing of the interior from the exterior thereof. In such of these earlier proposed devices as have been located outside the safe, special constructions have been resorted to requiring modification of the safe itself.

A fourth method for protecting the coni the container melts. When a higher tem-- the last set of holes opens.

ing to prevent combustion-or to kill combustion already begun in the neighborhood of the safe. A, v It is a well known fact that when fire strikes the walls ofa safe, the heat is quickly transmitted to the interior thereof. If the temperatureq'ises above 325 F. in the interior of a safe, paperstherein will be burned or carbonized.

y invention is a combustion prevent'er having for its object the provision of abox or container which will be readily portable,

containing chemicals, preferably carried by a filler within the box 'or'container, which are of such a nature that when exposed in a temperature of say 1et0,- they .will melt and when the'temperature rises to 212 to 230 F. (the boiling points), will start a steam- :ing-actiomgiving 01f moist vapor and gas which will reduce the temperature in some cases almost immediately-by forty to fifty degrees, thereby moistening and protecting the contents of the safe in which the con--' tainer is placed.

The container is provided with holes or perforations closed with fusible material; 'forinstance, solders adapted to fuse at a temperature from 140 F.' to 206 F. which close different sets of the holes; temperature inside the'safe rises to, say, 140

the fusible material filling certain holes in perature, say 206 is reached the sealing material for other holes fuses. When 230 to 250 is. reached-the sea-ling material for Thus the holes vent the gas and moisture in instalments lVhen the within the container. The chemicals must. be of such a nature that the moisture and gas evolved on their exposure will reduce the temperature in the safe and prevcntcombustion therein. There are arious chemicals and compounds which will serve the purpose above set forth and the disclosure.

by way of example hereinafter given, is not in limitation of that particular feature of the, invention but for the purpose of enabling those skilled in the art tounderstand the invention in that respect.

The metal container for the chemicals may assume differentshapes and sizes and I do not limit myself to the particular form f pound which will withstand a temperature shown in the drawings. It is preferable. however, .to have the container in the form of a'flat tablet of relatively small size so that it may be conveniently placed inside a safe, vault, cabinet, room, filing device or other place where it is needed. The corn tainer is preferably .provided with a device by which it may be suspended or fastened in place. The container is of any suitable metal, suitably varnished or coated inside to.

prevent corrosion by the'chemicals and, preferably, enameled, on-its exterior, with suitable directions and of a suitably distinctive color, for instance, red, so that it will be readily recognized.

My invention differs radically from'the methods and deviceshereinbefore set forth in that it is self-contained and complete and adapted to beinstalled at any point or in any position deslred'and changed from onepoint to another; further, the invention requires no modification of the safe, cabinet, or other container where it is used; third, the device may be applied at any time to either a new or an old safe, cabinet, or filing device 0r1box containing papers which are to be protected.

My invention afi'ords ameans for preventing injury to, or destructionof, papers, records, or the like in safes, cabinets. or other containers which are notfire-resisting from qany cause whether it be from age or con struction. By placing a device made according to the present invention inside of an old safe or even a'new one or other container for-papers and valuables, the safe, or the like, is thereby rendered a great deal more fire-resisting,-and I thus overcome, by my nvention, the deficiencles in safes which,

while originally designed to be fire-proof, have, from age, become practically worth- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view of a safe with my invention located therein; v

Fig. 2 is a perspective of the device constituting my invention; and 7 Fig. 3 is a section on line of Fig. 2. showing the fusible-seals for the openings in preferably coated or varnished to prevent corrosion from the chemicals contained therein. The sides, and preferably one or more of the edges of the container. have numerous holes or openings 2 of any suitable size. These are normally sealed by fusible plugs or fillings 8 of any material or romof up to 150 to 206 F., but will melt at such nedetermined temperature which should, of course, be considerably below the boiling point 212 F.- Preferably the container l is provided with an eye 4: or other suitable means by which it may be suspended or fastened in position.

Preferably the container 1' will be enameled exteriorly with some distinctive color as, for instance, red, so that it will be readily identified.

I do not limit myself to any particular formula or chemicals or chemical compounds or filler for holding said compounds or chemicals within the container 1, it only being necessary to provide chemicals or chemical co1nthe temperature predetermined. 150 to 206 F, at which the plugs 3 fuse and which will,

on further rise in temperature to the boiling point 212 F.,.start a steaming process, the evolved steam passing out through the holes 2.

One example of a compound which will serve the purpose of the present invention is as follows: sawdust which has been soaked in water, to. allow it to spread as much as possible. is mixed with 80% sal-soda, and 20% ammonium carbonate, is placed into a. glass tube or tubes and sealed by low melting point wax. The mixture should be by weight about chemical and 25% soaked sawdust. This mixture is placed inside the container 1 and water isv then poured in, or a saturated solution of Sal-soda and water is poureddnto the container, with ammothe container.

The complete and self-contained;;device.

is placed in the position Where it is d'es ired to prevent or kill combustion. In 1" I have illustrated the use of the invention in three ways inside a safe; When the safe is subjected to fire or to a temperature sufiiciently high to cause the temperature inside retained by the sawdust filler.

the safe to rise to the predetermined fusing points of the plugs 3, said plugs melt and the heat then has access to the interior of may be contained therein.

What I claim is 1- .1. A combustion preventer comprising self-contained and portablecontainer having-openingsno'nnally sealed by material adapted to fuse or melt within predetermined ranges of temperature, and combustion-preventing or suppressing means sealed material closing the outlet fuses.

Within said container adapted, when released by fusing of the said sealing means, to'pass from the container. 2; A container-provided with a plurality of openings normally closed by fusible-materials of different fusing points.

3.'A self-contained portable combustion preventer comprising a normally sealed container having an outlet normally closed by fusible means, and combustion preventing and suppressing means within said container which 1s released for action when th 4. A container provided with a plurality v of openings normally closed by fusible macals'or chemical compounds contained Within said container which are released in gaseous form by the fusing of said fusible -terials of different fusing points, and chemi--' v materials and-discharge through-saidopem 'ings.

In testimony whereof I aflix my si nature. 1 I GILBERT C. EE. 

